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La Valentina Restaurant

3.6 (73 reviews)
InexpensiveMexican
Closed • 10:00 am - 10:00 pm

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LA VALENTINA RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Good for kids
Good for groups
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - La Valentina Restaurant

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Peter D.

In a location where there is nothing but commercial around you. This gem is a stones throw away from the pretentious and offers a genuine transport to an authentic dining experience. It is the most unsuspecting restaurant I've seen in recent time. Was hesitant to even walk in since the store front reminds you of a supermarket(it is). If you walk in through the front you literally walk through a small bodega before you find the restaurant. The venue wasn't too busy since it is winter time near the beach, but the food quality is not diminished by the lack of heavy traffic. All of the food was cooked perfectly and was hand made. Everything from the handmade corn tortillas to the freshness of the opening salsa and chips. The pricing is extremely affordable, with most dishes costing well below $12-13 dollars. The portions are large and the meals hit the spot. A must try in you're in Long Branch

Chicken enchilada
Jeannette M.

Wow! What a gem! Don't be fooled by the exterior. It is connected to a small Mexican grocery store. The neighborhood is not to appealing. Food is authentic and delicious. Priced perfectly. Portions are the perfect size. It's a BYOB. We had the ceviche, beef nachos, and wings for appetizers. The chicken enchilada was delicious. The tacos al pastor and chorizo were great too. You have to try the hibiscus drink. So refreshing. They don't have a large wait staff so be prepared to wait. We spent a little over two hours here.

Kimberly R.

On our way home from the beach we were in the mood for tacos, and Taqueria la Valentina popped up. It is a hidden spot on a busy street, and it is also a supermarket. We had carnitas and steak tacos, both delicious and pretty authentic. The ambience and environment is homey and welcoming. Most people who were there appeared to be locals from various backgrounds, I look forward to returning next time I'm in the area.

Inside
Jon P.

Great tacos in an unexpectedly large restaurant. Many options but we went here for the tacos.

Amanda R.

*The stars are based solely on the food* Service: We got there a little over a half hour to closing time. I usually look at the close time but I did not this time so definitely my bad. To sum it up, our waitress was nonexistent. Maybe if we came earlier it would've been better but the food is what really matters right? Food: The three stars are based solely on the food. Ordered a shrimp chimichanga and tostada nachos. The nachos were good. Needed a bit of salt considering the flavor was a tad bit flat. Added a little bit of salt and , bueeeeno. Food took almost an hour to come out, idk if it was because they were getting ready to close. Chimichanga was yummy but a bit greasy. If I could give this place a 3.5 I would.

Bean and cheese burrito.
Amy N.

Food was service were decent. I would come back, but not often. Be prepared to wait a bit for the food, but the chips and salsa help pass the time. Order some guac to go with the chips; it was really good and fresh! Ordered a bean and cheese burrito, but I don't think this is very common because the waitress didn't seem to understand and asked if I wanted chicken or beef. When I tried to clarify I only wanted beans and cheese, I switched over to speaking in broken Spanish and asked for "frijoles y queso." The waitress asked if I wanted rice and beans on the outside, but I said "no thanks." I replied that I only wanted "frijoles y queso solamente." I also ordered a quesadilla with "solo queso." She seemed to understand. When the "burrito" came out, it looked nice, but I soon realized it only had cheese. It was a burrito with only cheese. Uhh what? So when she came back, I explained that I wanted frijoles also. She was super confused. She said she thought I only wanted cheese. I think both of us were confused, and I don't blame her. It was just a breakdown in communication. I clarified that I wanted "frijoles y queso" in the burrito, so she took it back and had it made again. She was very kind during this confusion, and I did not have to wait long for the replacement. It was very good, and I enjoyed it. The bill came, and while everything was OK, the charge for a bean and cheese burrito was $11. That's a LOT for a bean and cheese burrito IMO. Like I said, I may come back, but it wouldn't be often.

Minimalist, remove the fluff and nothing but goodness- straight up goodness
LS D.

Good stuff! The cook really does deliver and care about taste and presentation (to be a restaurant with multiple stores - groceries and local artistic shopping). I had the mucho burrito (chimichanga is my usual go to) and I'm telling you, it was to die for. The steak was slightly cooked a bit deeper for my taste (I'm a medium rare type of chick) but the flavor and the sauce was relish. I'm happy that the Mexican restaurant I was looking for was unexpectedly closed because this was a nice treat! The beans were whole and refried creamy mix which was nice the guacamole was so-so. But over all the meals I seen past me, I would go again to try them all.

Beautifully carved signs, menu boards.
Walt S.

This is the best Mexican restaurant I have ever experienced. The place is beautifully beautifully designed. It is very busy. The overwhelming majority of patrons are Mexican. I tried the sampler, I was so taken back that I am still shaking. It was a deliciously spiced, mildly hot shrimp, chicken, steak, sausage with chilies, cactus, cheese and a great sauce. Came with a basket of tortilla's, rice and beans. OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! If you come in go through the parking lot. After the meal visit the grocery and variety store attached to the restaurant, the store is fantastic. It's stocked with imported Mexican food, leather goods, it's worth a visit on its own. If you walk in through the variety store, you may never get to the restaurant, it is so interesting. I'm hoping that if you read this, you will be tempted to find your own favorite restaurant. Do not try this one, I want it all to myself ;)

This is the mixed burrito it was very good tasty the guacamole was homemade good selection

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Great, authentic Mexican food. Holds up well for takeout, too.

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7 years ago

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6 years ago

Ordered 2 dinners and an appetizer for delivery. 3 hours later. THREE effing hours later. Doesn't matter if food is good!

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El Rancho Mexican Restaurant - Tacos

El Rancho Mexican Restaurant

4.3(243 reviews)
0.6 mi
•$$

If you're craving good Mexican food and are tired after swimming at the beach, stop by El Rancho…read moreand get your fix! This hidden restaurant is around a 12 min walk from the shore and neatly packed with long tables perfect for bigger parties (4 to 6 people). The few times I've been there, there had only been one waitress manning all the tables, but she does a good job of keeping tabs on everyone. I haven't had a chance to try their other items on the menu yet, mainly because I keep going back for the grilled chicken chimichanga. Let me just say, it is heavy, cheesy, saucy and satisfying! Especially given the refried beans, hot rice, sour cream and salad, this is a hefty plate. Each time I order, it ends up in the to go box, ready for another meal (and I can't say I'm upset about that :) ) that's all from me, ty for reading!

We first visited El Rancho about six years ago while vacationing near Ocean Grove with our kids,…read moreand we've been trying to remember the name of this lovely spot across from the train station ever since. We finally made it back -- and it was just as good as we remembered! I had the carne asada, which was tender, flavorful, and cooked perfectly (so many places tend to overcook it until it's like cardboard, but not here). My wife ordered the chicken torta, generously layered with lettuce, crema, and all the right fixings. Both dishes were absolutely delicious. The food is not only tasty but also reasonably priced, and the warm, cozy atmosphere paired with friendly service makes the experience even better. We're so glad we rediscovered this gem -- still a favorite after all these years!

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El Rancho Mexican Restaurant
El Rancho Mexican Restaurant - Fajita with chicken,steak and shrimp. The empanadas were pack with flavor and so was the fajitas.

Fajita with chicken,steak and shrimp. The empanadas were pack with flavor and so was the fajitas.

El Rancho Mexican Restaurant

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Chupacabra Taqueria & Cantina - Hot Apple Pie Empanadas

Chupacabra Taqueria & Cantina

4.1(9 reviews)
1.3 mi

Holy...guacamole? We did not get the guacamole, but the nachos were really well made. Huge plate,…read moreperfect amount of toppings, well baked in the oven. The Birria tacos were outstanding. Cheap and excellent margaritas. Will be back!!!

I leave a lot of Yelp reviews and rarely give 1 star ratings, but unfortunately that was my…read moreexperience here. The service, wait times, and overall cleanliness were all extremely disappointing. When my friends and I arrived, there was a sign asking guests to wait to be seated, so we did. After about 10 minutes of standing there without anyone acknowledging us, despite making eye contact with multiple employees, we finally asked a server if we should just seat ourselves. She responded with a rude "yes." We went to the back room to find a table and ended up choosing the only one that felt clean enough to sit at, as most of the others still had not been cleared or wiped down from previous customers. It then took another 15-20 minutes before a server came to our table, and close to 30 minutes just to receive chips and guacamole. Our entrees arrived roughly 45-60 minutes later, which honestly felt lucky considering the table next to us, who had three small children, had apparently been waiting nearly two hours for their food. Overall, this was a very disappointing experience. We came on Cinco de Mayo and expected it to be busy, but long waits don't excuse poor service and lack of cleanliness. I hope the restaurant plans and staffs more appropriately for holidays and high-volume nights in the future.

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Chupacabra Taqueria & Cantina - COME TRY ALL OF OUR DELICIOUS FOOD!!!!

COME TRY ALL OF OUR DELICIOUS FOOD!!!!

Chupacabra Taqueria & Cantina - Chips & Guac

Chips & Guac

Chupacabra Taqueria & Cantina - Asada Steak Burrito served w/ side of homemade tortilla chips

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Asada Steak Burrito served w/ side of homemade tortilla chips

Los Papagallos

Los Papagallos

4.1(14 reviews)
0.2 mi
•$$

This place is definitely a local dive. I circled the block twice trying to find the parking lot…read moreit's not exactly where yelp says it is but I eventually got there. There's not much here by way of decour, empty tables and pictures of food wearing at the corners. But I was welcomed warmly first in Spanish and then in English. This place is family owned a kind mother and father smile from the back and their daughter runs the counter. There is a digital jukebox which someone chose to use halfway through my time there, it is loud and would make conversation difficult, but not impossible. I ordered the pork burrito which came with generous servings of rice and beans, which were flavorful by themselves it was truly a large meal. As they cooked my meal fresh they brought chips and salsas, both salsa were tasty and flavorful instead of just hot. If the chips were warm it would be heaven. The wait was a little long for a lunch break meal, but the quality and portion was well worth my time. Flavors are clearly a priority here and my stomach is thankful! For $11 I got a huge burrito with sides and a bottle of water. They have Spanish bottled sodas and home made juice if that's your kind of thing. Good little gem hidden in Long Branch, there are MANY good Spanish restaurants to choose from in this area, consider this one a strong competitor. Make sure to put money in the tip jar here it doesn't get any more local than this.

Excellent service and great food. Greatest chicken quesadillas!…read more They are warm and welcoming.

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Los Papagallos - Coca-cola from mexico

Coca-cola from mexico

Los Papagallos
Los Papagallos

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Restaurante El Oaxaqueno

Restaurante El Oaxaqueno

3.8(10 reviews)
0.0 mi
•$

I accidentally walked in here thinking it was the Valentina restaurant. Lol!…read more Since I was here and don't live in Long Branch (was on my way home) I figured I'd order something. I asked the girl working which tacos were the best here. I don't think she spoke much English which is completely ok, I unfortunately just don't know much Spanish! Lol She pointed to the cabeza taco aka head which is all good but I'd opted for the chicken (pollo! I do know that in Spanish) lol. So she took my order of chicken tacos I guess but I asked her to change to chicken tostadas. Of course once I went back to pick them up they had prepared both the chicken tostadas and chicken tacos which I paid around $18 for. SO MUCH FOOD FOR ONE PERSON! Haha. They were good but I think I liked the steak tacos at Valentina down the road better. The pulled chicken on them seemed a bit too rotisserie for my taste and the toppings were bland. Also not enough hot sauce! The positive side though is that this place IS super authentic and I'm sure won't disappoint on other menu items. :)

Omg!!! Thisss place!! Say you have a little piece of Mexico in Long Branch!!…read more As you enter it's very colorful, clean and clear!! The art on the wall make you feel as you've stepped into a cantina in the zona rosa - or the best taco place in your local area!!! The moment we walked in we were greeted and immediately attended. We ordered horchata - A BIG ONE!! Lol!! And it was very big- but very delicious!!! They also served chips with salsa verde and spicy red one too - which are made in the restaurant.- and ALL snacks are as well! We ordered the sopa de camarones ranchera , sopes, guarachas; ALL made to perfection and very generous portions !! The soup must have had 20 super big and fresh shrimp well seasoned and flavored- with diced onions, lemon and tortilla to season at your desire!! Sopes and guaraches delicious- with plenty of beans. Cheese, cream and chicken!!! Enough to take home!!! The menu is a bit overwhelming but I can tell with The dishes we ordered and the dishes that we saw other tables order - everything. I mean EVERYTHING is good!! :) Price - all for 36.00!! Can't beat that goodness for that price!!! Will be returning!! And you should try too!! Buen provecho!!!

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Restaurante El Oaxaqueno
Restaurante El Oaxaqueno
Restaurante El Oaxaqueno

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La Valentina Restaurant - mexican - Updated May 2026

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